Overview

• Two college students, Margaret Bowles and Maddie Cronin, safely returned to shore after encountering a great white shark off Stony Beach on July 4.
• The sighting was reported through the Sharktivity app and confirmed by Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries experts.
• Scientists attribute the shark’s unexpected presence to higher seal numbers and cooler summer water temperatures in Buzzards Bay.
• Fisheries officials have launched regular surveys in Buzzards Bay to track shark movements and issue safety advisories.
• Ongoing research will analyze seal population dynamics and temperature patterns to better predict future shark visits and refine beach guidelines.